IRON MAIDEN vocalist Bruce Dickinson, who is a qualified pilot, paid a visit to Hockley to speak about his life as a music icon and an airline captain.

The star’s visit was organised by the Vulcan Restoration Trust, which looks after the Vulcan bomber kept at Southend Airport. Bruce took time out to take a look inside the vintage plane, before his talk at Hawkwell Village Hall.

Phil Whalley, spokesman for the trust, said: “During the morning, Bruce took the controls of the Vulcan to run the engines as part of the ongoing engineering regime.

“The rock star is not a stranger to Avro Vulcan B2 XL426, having visited in 2006. He took the jet for a high-speed taxi run down Southend’s runway, reaching more than 100mph, before using the aircraft’s brake chute to bring her to a stop.

“his event was open to the public, but was marred by extremely bad weather.

“Ever since then the trust has been trying to get Bruce back to Southend to entertain its members.”